100-bed Mother, Child Specialist Hospital Commissioned In Akwa Ibom

By; PATRICK TITUS, Uyo

A 100-bed Mother and Child Specialist Hospital, designed to provide comprehensive maternal, neonatal, and paediatric care to residents of Ibiono Ibom and neighbouring communities in Akwa Ibom State has been commissioned.

The facility, constructed under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was commissioned at Oko Ita, Ibiono Ibom local government area on Wednesday by Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno.

The commissioning brought together a total of 45 of such facilities built by President Ahmed Tinubu in the country to help reduce the maternal and child mortality and improve access to essential health services across Nigeria.

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno who commissioned the facility lauded President Tinubu for providing the resources for the construction and equipping of the facility.

She also commended Governor Umo Eno for his people-centred governance approach and his commitment to creating an enabling environment for developmental interventions. She pledged to collaborate with the State government to provide residential quarters for medical personnel and additional facilities to elevate the hospital to general hospital standards.

Represented by his deputy, Senator Akon Eyakenyi, the Governor Eno
acknowledged that the hospital would significantly complement his administration’s efforts in delivering affordable and quality healthcare services across the State.

“Our President understands that health is wealth. The commissioning of this hospital speaks to the President’s commitment to addressing the healthcare needs of the people, especially those in rural area, as well as his resolve to implement Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3 on good health and well-being,” Governor Eno said.

The Governor announced that several Model Primary Health Centres have already been established across the ten federal constituencies in the State,and also revealed plans for the soon-to-be-flagged-off construction of a 350-bed Ibom International Multi-Specialist Hospital, aimed at promoting medical tourism in the State.

In her remarks, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, noted that the ultramodern hospital is one of the many Mother and Child Centres constructed and fully equipped by her office in partnership with sub-national governments, to reduce maternal and child mortality and improve access to essential health services across Nigeria.

She appreciated President Tinubu for his unwavering support towards the implementation of the SDGs and for providing the resources for the establishment of the facility, stating that a total of 45 such hospitals have been built across the country so far.

“Our 2024 SDGs Progress Report reveals sobering statistics. Maternal health indicators remain below target. This centre marks a significant step in Nigeria’s journey towards achieving SDG Goal 3,” she said.

Princess Orelope-Adefulire called for intensified efforts by all stakeholders to promote routine antenatal and postnatal care, strengthen skilled birth attendance through initiatives like the Midwives Service Scheme, prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV/AIDS, and ensure full immunisation coverage to protect children from preventable diseases.

She also commended Governor Umo Eno for his people-centred governance approach and his commitment to creating an enabling environment for developmental interventions. She pledged to collaborate with the State government to provide residential quarters for medical personnel and additional facilities to elevate the hospital to general hospital standards.

Goodwill messages were received from, the Senator Representing Akwa Ibom South,and Chairman, Senate Committee on Solid Minerals, Senator Ekong Sampson, a former Senior Special Assistant to President Buhari on Legislative Matters,Senator Ita Enang, Member Representing Itu/Ibiono Ibom Federal Constituency,Rt. Hon. Ime Okon, Hon. Moses Essien, Member Representing Ibiono Ibom State Constituency and Chairman, House Committee on Health.

Others were the Coordinator of the Maternal, Neonatal Mortality Reduction Innovation and Initiative of the Federal Ministry of Health, Dr Dayo Adeyanju, Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Ekem Emmanuel John, Chairman, Ibiono Ibom Local Government Area,Hon. Asuakak Umoh, and the Akwa Ibom State Focal Person on SDGs, Mrs Ime David,

The 100-bed facility is fully equipped with operating theatres, recovery rooms, delivery beds, laboratories and scanning rooms, emergency carts with full complements, ultrasound scanners, manual and electrical resuscitator, and other critical medical equipment.

The event featured the inspection of the hospital facilities by the representative of the Governor.